*Mark Waid turns in a adequate script here, but thats all it is--adequate. Oh sure, weve got some nice scenes here, especially towards the end with Spider-Man making fun of the fact that the Mad Thinker is not really a threat, and also how Electro has the worst battle cry in the world. Also, its essentially your patented Spider-Man dilemma in which even though hes the hero, the public sees him as a villain as opposed to the actual villain (and at least, in this instance, theres some justification for why they see Electro as a populist crusader). Yet, at the same time, there are plot developments which seem cut from your standard superhero comic clichés, such as the resolution the last issues cliffhanger with Spidey escaping the mob by going through a conveniently place manhole cover without them noticing. Or Mad Thinkers lab assistant suddenly realizing just what bad people shes really working for. Or Dexter Bennet making a deal with Electro only the find out hes been double-crossed.
*Also, this issue solidifies my belief that the Ultimate Marvel line was partially created to test ideas to eventually bring into the 616, as now Electro becomes a full-fledged energy being just like his Ultimate counterpart (as well as the MTV Spider-Man and Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon). Perhaps Marvel decided to do this because they believe Electro becoming living lightning is the character those outside of comics are familiar with. Whatever, it really not as big of a deal as the comic makes it out to be.
*The other problem this issue has is that, when it comes to the new characters, were not really given a reason to care about them. Michelle Gonzales, in both scenes she appears in, is basically nothing more than a hot-tempered harpy, although at least its not limited to Peter this time around (and boy are her days numbered now! She is officially on Aunt Mays Youre no good for my precious nephew **** list). The same goes with Dexter Bennet, as his role could have been played by any stock crooked businessman character, although I did think Electro threatening him in the tub was somewhat effective. Maybe its because it seems like a have sneaking suspicion that the story is going to end with the Daily Bugle destroyed and Bennet ruined, which would be the obvious outcome to this story.
*And as for Paul Azacetas art, I know that last week I thought it worked well for the story, but this time around it just seemed unfinished and muted to me. Not to mention the action sequences involving Spidey and Electro looked especially stiff, with no real sense of dynamism or movement. And yes, you really get to see the inconsistency of the characters facial features this time around.
